Yorkshire v Warwickshire (Day 1) Close:

Close:

Put into bat in cloudy conditions, Yorkshire enjoyed a flying start with raced to 105 for one at lunch, only for Warwickshire’s seamers to find their range in the afternoon session and claimed five wickets for 70 runs.

But New Zealand batsman Williamson used his vast experience to steady the innings and, backed up by 61 from Tim Bresnan, guided Yorkshire to a competitive 310 for eight at the close of the opening day.

Yorkshire made three changes to the line-up that drew with Durham, with Root, Gary Ballance and Steve Patterson returning to the line-up while Alex Lees, Andrew Hodd and Ryan Sidebottom were rested.

The changes gave Yorkshire the early impetus with Warwickshire’s seamers struggling to find a consistent line and allowing Root and Adam Lyth to forge a 91 runs partnership in only 22 overs.

They were parted only four overs before lunch with Lyth mis-timing an attempted pull off Chris Woakes, who was able to run back and take the catch off his own bowling.

But the big catalyst for Yorkshire’s afternoon collapse was the loss of Root, who had progressed impressively to 69 off 84 balls when he played on to Keith Barker attempting a late cut.

His dismissal signalled a change in momentum with Barker and Woakes both bowling impressive spells after lunch, with Barker swinging the ball from the Rugby Stand End while Woakes extracted uneven bounce from the Kirkstall Lane End.

The first signs of that uneven bounce accounted for captain Andrew Gale three overs later when he also played on, this time to Woakes, with a full-length ball that may have kept a little low.

Perhaps influenced by this, Woakes also hit Gary Ballance on his right elbow at the end of that over when the England batsman appeared to offer no shot. He received treatment for several minutes from physio Kunwar Bansil, but fell lbw to Barker in the next over when he continued his innings.

Wright added two further victims before tea, bowling Jonny Bairstow as he attempted to drive back down the pitch, before Adil Rashid edged low to Will Porterfield at second slip.

But having slipped to 181 for six and in danger of missing out on vital batting bonus points towards their title challenge, Williamson steadied the ship with his cool composure.

He took over three hours of patient and determined play to bring up his half-century, carefully guiding Yorkshire through the outstanding spells after lunch from Woakes and Barker, but let loose after reaching the milestone to hit Jeetan Patel’s off-spin down the ground for six.

But it was Williamson’s composure that stood out and given able assistance from Bresnan, watched by National Selector James Whitaker, turned the day around for Yorkshire.

The both fell in the space of seven balls having added 113 for the seventh wicket, Williamson trapped lbw to Barker for 75, and Bresnan bowled by Woakes for 61 attempting to drive.

Tea:

Yorkshire suffered an afternoon collapse after dominating the opening session against championship leaders Warwickshire at Headingley.

After being put into bat, Yorkshire dominated the morning and reached lunch on a comfortable 105 for one, only to lose five wickets for 70 runs as Warwickshire fought back strongly to reduce them to 198 for six at tea on the opening day.

Adam Lyth was the first to fall shortly before lunch when he mis-timed an attempted pull off Chris Woakes and gave a return catch to the England seamer.

But the catalyst for the collapse was the loss of Joe Root, who had progressed to 69 off 84 balls, including 11 fours, when he chopped Keith Barker onto his stumps four overs into the afternoon session.

Captain Andrew Gale followed three overs later when he also played onto his stumps, although the full delivery from Woakes appeared to keep a little low.

Yorkshire’s struggles were temporarily halted when Gary Balance was hit on the right elbow offering no shot to Woakes and although he continued after treatment from physio Kunwar Bansil, he fell lbw to Barker in the next over.

Wright added two further victims before tea, bowling Jonny Bairstow as he attempted to clip through mid-wicket before Adil Rashid edged low to Will Porterfield at second slip.

Lunch:

Joe Root marked his return from England duty with a quickfire half-century to help Yorkshire make a confident start against championship leaders Warwickshire at Headingley.

Opening alongside Adam Lyth after Warwickshire won the toss and decided to field, Root reached his 50 off only 59 balls, including nine fours, and helped Yorkshire reach 105 for one at lunch.

He dominated from the start, hitting three fours from Chris Wright’s opening over as Yorkshire took advantage of some wayward bowling with the new ball, and reached lunch unbeaten on 67 while Kyle Williamson was yet to score.

They were not even distracted by a 15-minute delay for rain, but only four overs before the interval Lyth fell for 32 mis-timing an attempted pull off Chris Woakes’ fourth ball and allowed the England seamer to take the return catch.

Root was one of three changes to Yorkshire’s line-up with Alex Lees, Andrew Hodd and Ryan Sidebottom making way from the drawn game against Durham with Gary Ballance and Steve Patterson also coming back into the side.